Lifting-jack



W. S. McQUlLLlN. unms JACK'.

RPPLICATION FILED JULY 5. 191B- 1,320A02; Patented Nov. 4,1919.

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LIFTING-JAGK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Application filed July 5, 1918. Serial No. 243,315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MCQUIL- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Kenmore, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lifting-Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

In ratchet operated lifting jacks which are more particularly designed for use in connection with automobiles, the same have heretofore been so constructed that it is necessary to reach under a considerable part of the body and adjacent parts of the car in order to get at the axle which is to be engaged by the lifting jack, and the operating mechanism was of such a character that its use was attended with inconvenience and the throw of theoperating lever was comparatively limited due to the obstruction caused by the proximity of the adjacent parts of the car.

The object of this invention is to pro vide a lifting jack of this type which can be applied to and removed from the axle of the automobile with convenience and facility without requiring the operator to reach underneath the car; which can be operated easily and quickly with a long effective stroke without interfering with ad jacent parts of the car; which can be conveniently reversed soas to permit of raising and lowering the car without ob-liging the operator to reach under the car; and which is applicable to lifting jacks already on the market and also capable of being embodied practically in lifting jacks when originally manufactured.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a lifting jack representing one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the manner of operating the reversing mechanism. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 5-5, Fi 1.

gimilar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization this lifting jack comprises a standard which is adapted to rest upon the ground or floor, a lifting bar movable vertically on the standard and a ratchet mechanism for raising and lowering the lifting bar relatively to the standard.

The construction which is shown in the drawings is more particularly designed for applying my invention in connection with lifting jacks which have already been manufactured and are in the market, but it is to be understood that my improvements are equally applicable to lifting jacks when they are originally manufactured, inasmuch as at such times the same may be built into the jack and form an inseparable part thereof.

In the construction shown in the drawings the standard comprises an upright guide post 1, provided at its lower end with a horizontal supporting foot 2 and a horizontal base 15 which is detachably connected with the foot. This detachable connection is preferably formed by providing the upper side of the base on its opposite longitudinal edges with inwardly turned undercut flanges 35 forming longitudinal guideways on the base plate which receive the opposite longitudinal edges of the foot, as best shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. By this means the base may be attached to or removed from the foot of the post by simply sliding these parts one horizontally relatively to the other. The foot for this purpose is introduced between the guide flanges 35 at the front ends thereof and its rearward movement between these flanges may be limited by engagement of a lug 16 on the rear end of the base with the rear end of the foot, as shownin Figs. 1 and 5, or by any other suitable means.

The lifting bar 3 slides vertically in a guideway formed in the post and is provided at its upper end with an upper seat 5 and on its rear side with a lower side seat 6 either of which may be engaged with the tXlG'OI other part of the automobile which is to be lifted.

The ratchet mechanism whereby the lifting bar is raised and lowered relatively to the standard may be of any suitable construction that shown in the drawings being typicalof one of many which may be used and as there shown the same comprises an upright row of ratchet teeth 4 formed on the front edge of the lifting bar, a ratchet lever 7 pivoted on the front side of the upper part of the standard by means of a horizontal pin 8, a lifting pawl or dog 10 mounted on the inner arm of the ratchet lever and engaging with the ratchet teeth, and a detent pawl or dog 9 pivotally mounted on the standard and engaging with the ratchet teeth above the lifting pawl. These pawls may be so manipulated that upon rocking or oscillating the ratchet lever vertically the same will cause the lifting bar to be either raised orv lowered, this being accomplished by a reversing mechanism which may be of any suitable construction. The form of reversing mechanism shown in the drawings is therefore to be regarded merely as typical of one now in general use and as there shown this reversing mechanism comprises a reversing lever pivoted on the standard below the pivot of the ratchet lever and provided with a forwardly projecting shifting arm 12 and with a rearwardly and upwardly projecting trip arm 11 which is adapted to engage with pins 13, it on the actuating and detentpawls 10, 9, respectively.

The rocking of the ratchet lever is effected by means which constitute one feature of my invention and in the form shown in the drawings the same are constructed as follows:

Arranged below the lifting lever is a main operating lever which preferably coniprises a rear section 18, 19, and a front sec tion 29. The rear section is constructed in the form of a fork, the prongs 18 of which are arranged on opposite sides of the post of the standard while the shank 19 thereof is arranged in front of this post. At their rear ends the prongs of the fork section of the operating lever are pivoted by means of a horizontal transverse pin 17 to the lug 16 projecting forwardly from the rear part of the base so that this lever swings about a fulcrum which is arranged in rear of the standard, that is to say, on that side thereof which is opposite to that on which the fulcrum of the ratchet lever is arranged. The shank of the rear section of the operating lever is connected on its upper side with the lower end of an upright link 20 by means of a pin 21 and the upper end of this link is detachably connected with the front end of the ratchet lever, preferably by means of a stud 22 pivotally connected at its front end by means of a horizontal pin 23 with the upper end of the link 20 while its rear end engages with a socket 36 in the front end of the ratchet lever and detachably retained therein by means of a locking pin 24 passing crosswise through these parts.

Owing to the location of the fulcrum of the operating lever on the rear side of the standard while the fulcrum of the ratchet lever is arranged on the front side of the standard and also connecting the ratchet lever with the operating lever in front of the standard it is possible by a comparatively short stroke of the operating lever to raise and lower the ratchet lever a full stroke and with a powerful effect. By this means this lifting jack can be used underneath a car in which only a comparatively limited amount of vertical space is available for operating the jack inasmuch as the vertical movement of the operating lever at its point of connection with the ratchet lever is increased by reason of the pivot of the operating lever being arranged a considerable distance in rear of the pivot of the ratchet lever, while at the same time the front section of the operating lever is conveniently accessible and capable of being easily operated with a long powerful stroke without necessitating reaching underneath the car.

For the purpose of enabling the operator to shift the reversing mechanism by motion derived from the operating handle in such manner that it will be unnecessary for the operator to reach under the car, the following means are provided:

On the post of the standard is mounted a vertically movable shifting member which may be variously constructed, but which as shown. in the drawings may consist of a vertically slidable carriage 25 guided on the outer side of the post, a coupling hook 27 arranged on the upper part of the front side of the carriage and embracing the front operating arm 12 of the reversing lever, and a coupling lug 28 arranged on the lower front part of this carriage. This carriage is preferably constructed in two sections which are applied to opposite sides of the post and detachably connected with each other by means of bolts 26, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

The shank 19 of the rear section of the operating lever is made hollow and provided on its underside with a longitudinal guideway 30 which is preferably constructed in the form of a slot and at the front end of the longitudinal guideway the shank is pro vided with an internal annular or circular groove 31 which intersects said slot 30.

The front section 29 of the operating lever is also preferably, though not necessarily, made of tubular form and arranged with its rear end in the tubular shank 19 so as to be capable of sliding lengthwise therein and also capable of rotation relatively thereto. Projecting rearwardly from the rear end of the front lever section 29 are two coupling lugs or lips 32, 38 which are spaced apart crosswise of this lever section and on the side of the adjacent rear part of this front lever section, the same is provided with a laterally projecting retaining lug or pin 3&. During the normal operation of raising and lowering the lifting bar 3, the front section of the operating lever is drawn relatively to the rear section and these two sections are retained in this position by engagement of the retaining pin 34: on the front lever section engaging with the circular locking groove 31 in the shank of the rear lever section, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and by full lines in Fig. 3. When it is desired to slide the shifting member up or down on the post for actuating the reversing member and cause the action of the ratchet mechanism to be reversed, the front section of the operating lever is turned in the shank until the retaining lug or pin 34 is in line with the guide slot 30 and both sections of the operating lever are raised so that the rear end of the shank is in line with the coupling lug 28 of the shifting member. The front section of the operating lever is now moved rearwardly so that its retaining pin 34 moves lengthwise in the guide slot 30 and the coupling lugs 32, 33 of the front lever sections are arranged one above the other. During the last part of this rearward movement of the front lever section the coupling lugs 32, 33 are shifted into a position above and below, respectively, of the coupling lug 28 on the shifting member, as shown in Fig. 2. When the parts are in this relative position a downward movement of the operating lever will cause the shifting carriage to be depressed while an upward movement of the same causes this carriage to be raised, thereby causing the ratchet mechanism to be so adjusted that it will either lower or raise the lifting bar upon rocking the operating lever. Upon moving the front lever section forwardlyuntil its pin 34 moves from the longitudinal slot 30 to the annular groove 31 and then turning this front lever section so that this pin engages with this groove, as shown in Fig. 3, then the front and rear lever sec tions are again elongated and in proper condition for operating the lifting jack with a minimum expenditure of power. When the front lever section is withdrawn out of engagement with the coupling lug 28 the vertical rocking motion of the operating lever will either lower or raise the lifting bar.

It will be noted that by means of this organization, the reversal in the operation of the lifting jack may be effected by motion derived from the operating lever and that this is accomplished without requiring the operator to reach under the car for this purpose.

l/Vhen the lifting jack is not in use, the stud 22 may be detached from the ratchet lever and the base may be detached from the foot of the post and then the several parts of the lifting jack may be compactly stowed away in a comparatlvely small space for convenience in transportation.

This lifting jack is not only very con-- venient in use but the same can also be produced at low cost and it has no delicate parts which are liable to get out of order when used under normal conditions.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lifting jack comprising a standard, a lifting bar slidable vertically on said standard, means for moving said bar vertically on said standard comprising a vertically swinging ratchet lever pivoted on one side of the standard and operatively connected with said bar, and a main operating lever pivoted on the opposite side of said standard to swing vertically and operatively connected with said ratchet lever, the free ends of both of said levers being arranged on the same side of said. standard on which the pivot of said ratchet lever is located and the pivot of the operating lever being arranged farther from the operator than the pivot of the ratchet lever.

2. A lifting jack comprising a standard, a lifting bar slidable vertically on said standard, means for moving said bar vertically on said standard comprising a vertically swinging ratchet lever pivoted on one side of the standard and operatively connected with said bar, a main operating lever arranged below said ratchet lever and pivoted on the opposite side of said standard to swing vertically, and a link connecting said main operating lever with said ratchet lever on the same side of the standard on which the fulcrum of the ratchet lever is located, the free ends of both of said levers being arranged on the same side of said standard on which the pivot of said ratchet lever is lo cated and the pivot of the operating lever being arranged farther from the operator than the ivot of the ratchet lever.

3. A li ting jack comprising a standard having a post and a base detachably connected with the lower end of said post, a lifting bar slidable vertically on said post, a ratchet mechanism for moving said lifting bar including a ratchet lever pivoted on the front side of said post to swing vertically, an operating lever pivoted on said base in rear of said post, and means for connecting said levers in front of said post, the free ends of both of said levers being arranged on the same side of said standard on which the pivot of said ratchet lever is located and the pivot of the operating lever being arranged farther from the operator than the pivot ofthe ratchet lever.

4. A lifting jack comprising a standard having a post and a base detachably connected with the lower end of said post, a lifting bar slidable vertically on said post, a ratchet mechanism for moving said lifting bar including a ratchet lever pivoted on the front side of said post to swing vertically, an operating lever pivoted on said base in rear of said post, and means for connecting said levers in front of said post comprising a stud engaging removably with the front end of said ratchet lever, and a link connecting said stud with said operating lever,

the free ends of both of said levers being arranged on the same side of said standard on which the pivot of said ratchet lever is located and the pivot of the operating lever being arranged farther from the operator than the pivot of the ratchet lever.

5. A lifting jack comprising a standard, a lifting bar slidable vertically on said standard, means for moving said bar vertically on said standard" including a ratchet lever pivoted on said standard, a reversing mechanism having a reversing lever, an operating lever pivoted on said standard and connected with said ratchet lever, and means operated by movement derived from said operating lever for actuating said reversing mechanism.

6. A lifting jack comprising a standard, a lifting bar slidable vertically 011 said standard, means for moving said bar vertically on said standard including a ratchet lever pivoted on said standard, a reversing mechanism having a reversing lever, an operating lever pivoted on said standard and connected with said ratchet lever, and means operated by movement derived from said operating lever for actuating said reversing mechanism comprising a shifting member slidable vertically on said post and connected with said reversing lever, and means movably mounted on said operating lever and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from said shifting member. 7 A lifting jack comprising a standard, a lifting bar slldable vertically on said standard, means for moving said bar vertically on said standard including a ratchet lever pivoted on said standard, a reversing mechanism having a reversing lever, an operating lever having a rear section pivoted on said standard and a front section slidable lengthwise on said rear section and provided with coupling lugs, and a shifting member slidable vertically on said standard and connected with said reversing lever and adapted to be engaged by said coupling lugs.

8. A lifting jack comprising a standard, a lifting bar slidable vertically on said standard, means for moving said bar vertically on said standard including a ratchet lever pivoted on said standard, a reversing mechanism having a reversing lever, an operating lever pivoted on said standard and connected with said ratchet lever, and means operated by movement derived from said operating lever for actuating said reversing mechanism, an operating lever for said ratchet lever having a rear section pivoted on the standard and having a tubular shank, a longitudinal guideway in said shank and an internal circular groove intersecting the front part of said guideway, and a front section slidable and rotatable in said shank and having a pair of coupling lugs at its front end and a retaining pin on its side which is adapted to engage with said longitudinal guideway and circular groove, and a shifting member having a carriage slidable vertically on said standard, a hook at its upper end which engages with said reversing lever and a coupling lug on its lower part which is adapted to be engaged by the coupling lugs of the front section of said operatin lever.

WILLIAM MOQUILLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

